Stolen by the Sea

Translating the emotions and fear of events such as these into a novel for children is challenging. Maggie McKenna is an only child. She is jealous of the new brother or sister about to be born to her family. She also resents the attention and friendship her father gives an orphan boy named Felipe. Maggie is left at home in Galveston while her parents visit the doctor in Houston. The storm begins and Maggie watches the water rise. Maggie must find the strength and will to survive as she and Felipe work together to live through the storm. A well written treatment of a story that is not as well known as it should be.

Set in the early 1900s, STOLEN BY THE SEA tells the story of Maggie, a well off 12-year-old. Maggie and the rest of her family, the McKennas, live in Galveston, Texas. Maggie enjoys spending her days with her Papa, going out to the sea --- that is, until an orphaned 14-year-old boy named Felipe from Mexico comes to help them with jobs around the house and Papa begins paying more attention to Felipe instead of her. But then, Papa has to take Maggie's mother to a doctor in Houston, and a terrible hurricane occurs. Now Maggie, Papa and Felipe must try to work together to survive the storm!I liked this book because it talked about hurricanes. I like to learn about all forms of weather. It was interesting to see how they lived in the early years of the last century. The people had a lot of bravery and courage during the storm which was inspiring. A definite must read! --- (...)

Wealthy, twelve-year-old Maggie lives in a large house in Galveston, Texas, with her parents in 1900. Lately, Maggie has felt ignored by her parents. The attention her father gives to Felipe, an orphan boy who does chores for the family, makes her believe he would prefer a son. Now that her mother is pregnant, she fears the new baby will take her place in her parents' hearts. When her father takes her mother to the doctor in Houston, Maggie is left alone with the elderly, sickly housekeeper and the grumpy cook. While though the town had expected a hurricane, it never expected the terrible storm that would hit. Even though she resents him, with the storm raging and the waters rising, Maggie may have to turn to Felipe for help if she is going to survive. I reccomend this book to young readers who like historical disaster stories.